Aeolosoma | |
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Aeolosoma foraging for food | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Annelida |
Class: | Polychaeta |
Order: | incertae sedis |
Family: | Aeolosomatidae |
Genus: | Aeolosoma Ehrenberg, 1828[1] |
Aeolosoma is a genus of minute annelid worms, variously attributed either to oligochaetes or polychaetes.[2] Unlike most polychaetes, they reside in freshwater environments in various parts of the world.
Aeolosoma are transparent worms, very thin and of the length of 1.5–2 mm.[3] They usually reproduce asexually.[4] This is done by paratomy (fragmentation), when the posterior segments are separated from the parent worm. It starts when the worm reaches a certain number of millimeters (depending on the species).[5] Only one species, Aeolosoma singulare, is known to reproduce sexually.[6]
Aeolosoma feed on microalgae, microorganisms and detritus.[7] Their mouth acts like a small vacuum cleaner, which helps them suck up their food into their system.[8]
Below is a list of species of the Aeolosoma genus:[9]